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Rookie quarterback B.J. Daniels was about 3,000 miles away from the 49ers’ headquarters during the month before rookies reported to training camp, but in some ways he never left Santa Clara.

Daniels worked out at his college, the University of South Florida in Tampa, which has become “49ers East” since Jim Harbaugh protégé Willie Taggart was hired as the Bulls head coach in December.

Taggart, 36, worked for Harbaugh for three seasons as Stanford’s running backs coach and they share a rich history. They first met about 20 years ago when Harbaugh, then working as an unpaid assistant at Western Kentucky for his dad, Jack, successfully recruited Taggart out of Manatee High in Bradenton, Fla. Years later, Harbaugh was the best man at Taggart’s wedding.

Beyond a close bond, they also share the same offense, which brings us back to Daniels. The seventh-round pick remained immersed in the 49ers’ terminology while working out at USF. Given his pending training-camp battle with incumbent Scott Tolzien for the No. 3 quarterback spot, that time at USF is relevant: Daniels needs to pull some all-nighters to match Tolzien’s mastery of the offense.

“With coach Taggart, (USF) runs the same schemes, so it worked out very well for me,” Daniels said. “It really helped me out. To be able to go into their quarterback meetings to talk the same football – to still have conversations about the same offense – that was pretty cool.”

With Tolzien entering his third season, the undersized, strong-armed Daniels (5-11) can’t match his experience. But he does have the edge in athleticism and versatility, qualities Harbaugh prizes.

He was a four-year starting dual-threat quarterback at USF and finished his career ranked third in Big East history with 10,501 yards (8,433 passing; 2,068 rushing). During the 49ers’ offseason program, he moonlighted as a punt returner, running back and pass-catcher.

Daniels no doubt received a strong recommendation from Taggart, who knows better than most what Harbaugh wants in a quarterback. Taggart and Daniels first met in December, four months before the 49ers grabbed him with the 237th pick. Another positive sign for Daniels is that Harbaugh identified him: Since Harbaugh’s arrival, the 49ers have drafted two quarterbacks: Daniels and Colin Kaepernick.

In January, after Kaepernick accounted for 444 total yards in a divisional-playoff win over Green Bay, Taggart sent a text message to Harbaugh: “You are the best evaluator of quarterbacks in the country. Hands down.”

Six months later, Daniels hopes to further bolster Harbaugh’s reputation.